Free Standing Shelving Unit

ABSTRACT

A shelving unit containing two vertical members. Each vertical member is adapted to receive a plurality of support brackets, and each vertical member has a bottom portion which is angled forward. Angling the bottom portion of the legs moves the center of gravity forward and thus stabilizes the unit when it is leaned either (1) against a wall, or (2) back-to-back with another unit. 
     The vertical members may also each contain a continuous slot that allows movement of the shelf brackets so that they can be fixed in place at any position on the vertical members.

RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims priority of provisional patent application, serial number 99A23 filed Nov. 18, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shelving unit that does need to be attached to a supporting wail and further, two units can be used back-to-back as a free-standing shelving unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shelving units are useful for space organization within home and office spaces. However, installation and the need to locate support beams in the wall can often make their use more difficult. The current invention is designed to eliminate the difficulties commonly associated with the installation of such shelving units. Previous inventions have solved the problem with use of what is commonly referred to as “ladder” shelf units. In such devices the entire shelf unit is set at an angle to lean against a support wall, similar to a ladder, for example the devices shown by United States Design Patents, Des. 339,256 and Des. 364,763. One problem of this design is that the entire frame of the unit is set at an angel, so that the is frame is away from the wall at it's based and steadily progressing inwards towards the top of the frame which is abutting the wall. Accordingly, the construction and arrangement of each shelf must take into account the relative spacing from the wall. Further, because of the angled frames, such devices require a wall, and cannot be used as a free-standing unit.

The present invention overcomes these drawbacks and allows for uniform, freely adjustable and interchangeable shelves. The device can be used by leaning the unit against a support wall, however a wall is not needed if two units are used. Two units can be placed back-to-back to be used as free-standing unit without the need of a support wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a shelving unit is made more useful by providing the unit with two vertical members having a bottom portion angled forwardly in order to shift the center of gravity of the unit. Angling the bottom portion of the legs moves the center of gravity forward and thus stabilizes the unit when it is leaned either (1) against a wall, or (2) back-to-back with another unit.

One key advantage of the present design is that allows for uniform shelves throughout the unit, while allowing the shelves to also be freely moved. In the ladder-type units discussed above, each shelf must account for the varying of the frame from the wall, and therefore the shelves are not easily interchangeable and adjustable. In the present invention, such adjustability can be achieved by having numerous pre-set slots in each vertical member of the frame, where each shelf bracket can be easily moved form one slot to the next.

However, in the preferred embodiment, the vertical members of the shelf-unit each contain a continuous slot that allows movement of the shelf support brackets so that the support brackets can be fixed in place at any position on the vertical members. The groove extending the length of each vertical member of the frame is a T-shaped recess designed to receive a corresponding T-shaped projection at the end of each shelf bracket. Each bracket is equipped with a securing screw that will secure the bracket in the desired location on the vertical member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an interior cross-sectional side-view of one vertical member of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top-down cross-sectional view of one vertical member of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a top-down view of one support bracket of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIGS. 1 and 2, shelf-unit 10 is supported by wall 40. Two vertical members 20 have a straight top portion which abuts wall 40, and an angled bottom portion 21 with feet 22. By angling bottom portion 21,, the center of gravity of shelf-unit 10 is adjusted, thereby stabilizing the unit.

In FIG. 1 vertical members 20 have predefined slots 35 for shelf securing brackets 30 in place. Securing brackets 30 can be secured in varying slots 35, thereby adjusting the location and spacing of shelves 50. In FIG. 2 an alternate embodiment is shown where vertical members 20 have a continuous T-shaped recess 31. In this embodiment, shelf brackets 30 can be slid up and down recess 31 to allow for a full-range of adjustability for the location of shelf brackets 30 and in-turn, full adjustability he location and spacing of shelves 50.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 further illustrate the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Recess 31 is slightly wider than the corresponding T-shaped end 33 of each shelf bracket 30. When downward pressure is applied on bracket 30, which can simply be gravity, bracket 30 enters an angled position 30 a. When bracket 30 is in position 30 a, end 32 is slightly angled within recess 31, and the top of end 32 is forced against the interior wall of recess 31. While in position 30 a, securing screw 33 can be tightened, securing bracket 30 in place. When securing screw 33 is loosened, and downward pressure is removed, by slightly lifting bracket 30, bracket 30 enters a straight vertical position 30 b. While bracket 30 is in position 30 b, end 32 can be freely slid along recess 31 to new position. When the bracket 30 is in the desired position, it is released and re-enters position 30 a where it can again be secured in place with securing screw 33. 

1. A shelving unit containing two vertical members, wherein each vertical member is adapted to receive a plurality of support brackets, and each vertical member has a rear-facing surface and a forward-facing surface, and each vertical member further comprising a substantially straight top portion and a bottom portion, said bottom portion angled outwardly in the direction of the forward-facing surface.,
 2. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein each vertical member is substantially straight from the top of the vertical member to a point at least 75% down the total length of the vertical member, and the angled bottom portion comprises at most 25% of the total length of the vertical member.
 3. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein each vertical member includes a continuous T-shaped recess through the center, said recess being open on one end, and said recess extending continuously along each vertical member for no less than 75% of the total length of the vertical member, and said shelf-unit further comprising a plurality of support brackets, each support bracket including a T-shaped end and a support screw, wherein said T-shaped end is slightly smaller than the T-shaped recess of the vertical member, and whereby, when said support screw is not engaged, the T-shaped end can slide freely within the T-shaped recess, and when said supports crew is engaged, the T-shaped end is fixed in place in the T-support bracket in a fixed position. 